10-02-2008, 11:10 AM
St. Johns River boaters can now access some portions of the river that have been under emergency-rule vessel restrictions for the safety of boaters since August.
Lake Jesup is now unrestricted to vessels. The river had been closed to vessels from the south part of Lake Monroe all the way to State Road 50 because of flood waters from Tropical Storm Fay.
The emergency rule sets in motion a system that automatically enacts restrictions based on daily water-level measurements taken from four U.S. Geological Survey gauges located in different parts of the river.
The gauges are located at Astor (ASTF1), Deland (DLAF1), near Sanford (SNFF1) and near Geneva (GENF1). The rule specifies at what level different restrictions are in effect. The best way to find out if a vessel restriction has changed is to check the levels daily at www.weather.gov/ahps and reference the gauge associated with the particular section of the river you are concerned about.
For a full list of the areas affected by the new emergency rule, please go to MyFWC.com/DisasterPlan/News.htm, and check under the heading "What is open, closed"¦"
As of 4:30 p.m., Friday the restrictions for each of the affected areas were as follows:
* Lake George fender system to Highlands Park Canal at Day Mark 39 - Idle
* Highlands Park Canal at Day Mark 39 to the I-4 Bridge - Idle
* I-4 Bridge and most of Lake Monroe - No restrictions
* Southeast portion of Lake Monroe to State Road 46 Bridge south of Lake Harney - Idle
* Baxter's Point to Hatbill Road Boat Ramp - No restrictions
* Lake Jesup - No restrictions
Again, the water levels change daily, which means these restrictions could change frequently; so it's important for anyone who plans to use the river to monitor the water levels daily at www.weather.gov/ahps.
Media Contact
Joy Hill: 352-732-1225 or 352-258-3426
Lake Jesup is now unrestricted to vessels. The river had been closed to vessels from the south part of Lake Monroe all the way to State Road 50 because of flood waters from Tropical Storm Fay.
The emergency rule sets in motion a system that automatically enacts restrictions based on daily water-level measurements taken from four U.S. Geological Survey gauges located in different parts of the river.
The gauges are located at Astor (ASTF1), Deland (DLAF1), near Sanford (SNFF1) and near Geneva (GENF1). The rule specifies at what level different restrictions are in effect. The best way to find out if a vessel restriction has changed is to check the levels daily at www.weather.gov/ahps and reference the gauge associated with the particular section of the river you are concerned about.
For a full list of the areas affected by the new emergency rule, please go to MyFWC.com/DisasterPlan/News.htm, and check under the heading "What is open, closed"¦"
As of 4:30 p.m., Friday the restrictions for each of the affected areas were as follows:
* Lake George fender system to Highlands Park Canal at Day Mark 39 - Idle
* Highlands Park Canal at Day Mark 39 to the I-4 Bridge - Idle
* I-4 Bridge and most of Lake Monroe - No restrictions
* Southeast portion of Lake Monroe to State Road 46 Bridge south of Lake Harney - Idle
* Baxter's Point to Hatbill Road Boat Ramp - No restrictions
* Lake Jesup - No restrictions
Again, the water levels change daily, which means these restrictions could change frequently; so it's important for anyone who plans to use the river to monitor the water levels daily at www.weather.gov/ahps.
Media Contact
Joy Hill: 352-732-1225 or 352-258-3426